Obituary of Geraldine H. Bennett

Surrounded by her family, Gerri Bennett passed into the arms of her Savior on February 15, 2024 completing her earthly journey of 94 years. Beloved mother and grandmother, Gerri is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, Dan & Mary Ann Oglesby of Branchport, NY; son-in-law Cary Casey of Arlington, TX; her grandchildren, Sharon (Chris) Atkins of Canandaigua, NY; Ed Oglesby (Allison) of Victor, NY; Collin, Cameron, and April Casey of Arlington TX; and 13 great-grandchildren. She is predeceased by her daughter, Debra Casey; and husbands, Edward Oglesby and William Bennett. Gerri was an only child, born to Lee & Mildred Hughes on April 3, 1929 on the Ft Mills military base in Corregidor, Philippines. As the daughter of a military man, Gerri's earliest years were spent traveling wherever her father was stationed, and eventually settling in El Paso, TX with her father's military retirement. After the death of her father when she was just 12 years old, Gerri spent time with cousins near her mother's hometown near Elmira, NY before attending Houghton Academy, making life-long friendships along the way. At Houghton, she found the most significant relationship of her life when she met her Lord and Savior. Upon graduation, Gerri met and married her first husband, Edward Oglesby, and became the mother of Dan and Debbie. Some of her happiest memories while raising her family were spent at Camp Li-Lo-Li, a Christian camp near Salamanca, NY. Once her children were raised, Gerri returned to TX to be closer to her mother and aging grandfather. She pursued higher education, obtaining a BS in nursing, and a Master's degree in gerontology. She worked in nursing home administration and concluded her career as an expert witness, often advocating for families whose loved ones were in long-term care. Gerri married her second husband, Bill Bennett, a native Texan and retired member of the State Department, and spent 33 years at their home in San Antonio. For several years, they bred white German shepherds. Following the passing of both her daughter and husband, Gerri moved once again to NY, and spent her final years in her own home close to her family there. Gerri's greatest joys were her relationships with her Lord, her family, her friends, her furry companions, and her books. She was so very grateful for the many years of good health, which allowed her to share her faith with her family and see her legacy grow. In her last days, we talked about how blessed we are to know that because of the work of Jesus, this life is only the beginning of our eternal life. While we miss her, those who share Gerri's faith can take comfort knowing that we shall see her again. So her memorial service will not be a "good-bye" it's a "see ya later." A memorial service honoring her life and promotion to heaven will be held on Saturday, March 16th, 2024 at 11:00 AM at Victor Community Church, 7500 Route 251, Victor, New York. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to Camp Li-Lo-Li, 8811 Sunfish Run Rd, Randolph, NY 14772. (liloli.org).